Justin Kluivert overcame a brief memory blank to explain why he does have a Cristiano Ronaldo shirt, but has never traded with Lionel Messi.
- Dutch starred has faced CR7 a few times
- Landed prized memento from Portuguese icon
- Battled Argentine star during spell in France
WHAT HAPPENED?
During his time on the books at Serie A side Roma, Kluivert – the son of Ajax and Barcelona legend Patrick – lined up against CR7 during the Portuguese superstar’s spell at Juventus. He also faced the five-time Ballon d’Or winner when making his international debut for Netherlands in March 2018.
WHAT KLUIVERT SAID
Kluivert is now the proud owner of a prized No.7 jersey, telling Sky Sports of landing that memento: “I have Cristiano Ronaldo’s shirt. I haven’t framed it for the moment, but I think in the future for sure I will create a nice room and it will look good. But I changed with Ronaldo, so that will be one not to forget.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
While he will not forget facing Ronaldo, Kluivert almost glossed over the fact that he has graced the same pitch as Argentine icon Messi. He said, when discussing his favourite player and initially claiming to have never faced him in competitive action: “My favourite player of all-time is no doubt Messi. I think he is the best player in the world. For me he is something else, and I think a lot of people agree with me. Sorry, I have to take my words back, I have (played against him)! And I didn’t get his shirt! I tried but I’m also not the guy that is really too greedy. If it happens, it happens, but it didn’t happen!”
DID YOU KNOW?
Kluivert added, having figured for Nice against Paris Saint-Germain during a loan spell in 2021-22: “It was unbelievable. I took the ball away from him one time and I was like: ‘Hey, what happened, he is still human’. It was beautiful.”
